Post by : Meena Ariff

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have shared their decision to exit Strictly Come Dancing by the end of the ongoing season, with a Christmas special set as their final appearance. They stated in a joint message, “Working together has been a real joy and hosting Strictly has been a dream come true.”

The announcement has led to much speculation regarding their potential successors. Contenders include Roman Kemp, AJ Odudu, Hannah Waddingham, Alan Carr, Holly Willoughby, Stacey Dooley, and Alison Hammond. Additionally, producers might look to familiar faces from Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.

Television editor Caroline Frost praised Daly and Winkleman as “a powerful presenting duo” and hinted at a restructuring for the show, stressing its ongoing appeal. The BBC referred to their departure as “the end of an era,” commending them as “remarkable hosts.”

This Weekend on Strictly

The 11 remaining couples will showcase their talents in Icons Week, celebrating musical legends with performances featuring artists like Beyoncé, Harry Styles, and Ariana Grande. Highlights include:

• Alex & Johannes – Foxtrot to Here You Come Again (Dolly Parton)

• Amber & Nikita – Cha Cha Cha to Break Free (Ariana Grande)

• Balvinder & Julian – Quickstep to Texas Hold ‘Em (Beyoncé)

• George & Alexis – Jive to As It Was (Harry Styles)

Hollywood star Rachel Zegler will honor the stage with Don’t Cry for Me Argentina during the results show on Sunday.

In other news, Neighbours star Stefan Dennis has stepped out of the competition due to a calf injury. His partner, Dianne Buswell, will remain in the series solo, leaving three couples vying for the finale.

Fans will also witness professional dancers paying tribute to Britney Spears, while judges don costumes as iconic figures. The standard dance-off round will determine the bottom two couples.